There are many mineral resources in Nigeria which makes a lot of sense considering that the country has a size of 923,768 square km and is home to about 186 million Nigerians. There are 36 states I Nigeria and a Federal Capital Territory called Abuja. Nigeria has a rich cultural heritage with over 250 ethnic groups. The nation is popularly called the giant of Africa due to its economy and population.

Nigeria currently ranks as the 137 richest country in the world with a GDP per capita (nominal) of $2,050. This West African country is blessed with beautiful sights like the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Calabar and the Yankari Game Reserve. It is a predominantly oil-rich nation with large reserves of several other mineral resources. Nigeria’s mineral resources fall into either metallic, non-metallic or fuel mineral resources. These varying mineral resources contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy and can be found in varying locations (states) around the country.

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Mineral Resources in Nigeria

1. CRUDE OIL

Crude oil is a fuel mineral resource that is mostly refined to extract its constituents like diesel, jet fuel, gasoline, and kerosene. Over the years, oil has become Nigeria’s number one mineral resource.

In 1959, oil was found in Bayelsa and is now being extracted from 7 other states as well which are

Abia
Akwa Ibom
Delta
Edo
Imo
Ondo
Rivers.

The nation currently supplies about 20% of the United States oil supply. It is also ranked as world’s 12^th producer and the 8^th biggest exporter with the nation’s reserve listed as the 10^th largest.

2. BITUMEN

Bitumen is an important non-metallic mineral resource which was discovered in 1990 but first excavated 5 years after. Nigeria has a reserve of about 42 billion tonnes of bitumen found in states such as:

Edo
Lagos
Ondo
Ogun states

The major use is in the construction of roads.

3. COAL

Enugu state till date is still referred to as coal city due to its large coal reserve. Once upon a time, coal was widely used in Nigeria but has now been abandoned. Following its discovery in 1909, the first set was excavated in 1916 and fields around the nation were calculated to hold as much as 3 billion tonnes of coal. Coal is also seen in:

Benue
Nasarawa
Ondo
Plateau
Zamfara states.

4. ROCK SALT

Rock salt finds application in the production of caustic soda, table salts, hydrogen peroxide, and several other useful products. Nigeria is blessed with a huge reserve of about 1.5 tonnes of this mineral resource in states like:

Abia
Akwa Ibom
Benue
Cross River
Ebonyi
Imo
katsina
Nasarawa
Plateau
Sokoto.

5. SOIL

The uses of soil can really not be exhausted. It is used in the construction of buildings and depending on the soil type supports of the growth of various livestock. Clay soil is also used in pottery and sculpting. Sand can be found in all the states of the country with some states having more of one type than the other. Some parts of Abuja and Borno are known to have an abundance of clay soil.

6. LIMESTONE

Limestone is used to produce cement, chalk, plaster of Paris etc. Nigeria is said to hold about a million-tonne reserve of this mineral resource in states like:

Abia
Akwa Ibom
Anambra
Bayelsa
Benue
Borno
Cross River
Edo
Enugu
Imo
Ondo
Sokoto states.

7. GEMSTONES

Some of the best and most beautiful gemstones in the world can be gotten from Nigeria. These gemstones can be used in the making of fine jewelleries, coins and some find application in photography, medicine, and aerospace engineering. Nasarawa state is blessed with a wide assortment of gemstones like beryl, dolomite, aquamarine, sapphire, tourmaline, quartz-amethyst, zircon etc. Gemstones are also found in:

Bauchi
Ondo
Ogun
Plateau
Kaduna states

8. IRON ORE

Iron ore was found in Nigeria in excess of 3 billion tonnes and this led to the incorporation of body to oversee the activities of two steel companies opened in Delta state and Ajaokuta. Unfortunately, the efforts were a waste and till date, the opportunities that can be gotten from this mineral remain untapped.

9. LEAD

This is another untapped mineral resource found in states like:

Abia
Akwa Ibom
Bayelsa
Benue
Cross River
Anambra
Ebonyi
Taraba
Niger

It is said that Nigeria’s lead reserves surpass 15 million tonnes sadly left unused. Lead can be used in the production of batteries, ceramics, ammunition, cable sheaths, gamma and X-ray radiation etc.

Other natural mineral resources found in varying amounts across the different states of Nigeria include natural gas, gold, silver, platinum, tin, copper, aluminium, selenite, gravel, copper, lignite, tantalite, feldspar, galena, mica, talc. Indeed Nigeria is a blessed nation and with good governance can easily become one of the largest producers and export countries in the world. This will be a big boost to the nation’s economy and will help to drastically disengage its people from the shackles of poverty.